Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has declared that his administration will create thousands of employment opportunities using agriculture and small and medium enterprises.

Speaking at the Government House, Port Harcourt on Friday when he granted audience to the Development Finance Team of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Governor Wike said that the state government will support small holders farmers to produce cash crops in areas where the state has comparative advantage.

He said under the present economic reality, investment in agriculture is the best approach towards reducing food imports and conserving scarce foreign exchange.

The governor called on the Central Bank of Nigeria to extend the needed credit facilities to develop agriculture in the state. He said: "We are committed to the reduction of the importation of food through the development of our agricultural sector. We believe that reduced food importation we will create more jobs for our people.

"We will fully participate in the Anchor Borrowers Programme because this programme will help us in our quest to create employment through agriculture. This programme should be sustained despite the pressures that will come", the governor stated.

In his remarks, Representative of the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mr Paul Iwe assured the Rivers State Government that the apex will provide the required credit facilities to grow the agricultural sector.

He said that N220billion has been earmarked for the Anchor Borrowers Programme for the purpose of providing loans to small holders farmers and small businesses, noting that Rivers State will be fully accommodated.